Carbon-monoxide detector



- Oct. 4, 1927. ,014

C. S. GORDON ET AL CARBON monoxrna DETECTOR Filed Dec. 5, 1925 INVENTORS 6: 6. Gordon WJZlowe a A TTORNE Y Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

CHESTER S. GORDON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND JAMES T. LOWE, OI NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CARBON-MONOXIDE DETECTOR.

This invention relates to detectors of odorless gas, and more particularly to commercially suitable means for'detecting the presence of carbon monoxide gas in the air.

' It is known that certain salts, notably palladium chloride, are reagents of carbon monoxide. The reaction of palladium chloride to carbon monoxide was made use of a nuin ber of years ago, and a means for detecting the presence of carbon monoxide in the air was devised, which was satisfactory for laboratory use or for use in fixed places suchas factories and schools.

The problem then arose of furnishing com m'ercial workers, such as cablemen, with means for promptly detecting the presence of carbon monoxide, gas in confined spaces such as manholes. It has been proposed to supply such workers with strips of light colored absorbent paper impregnated with a solution of palladium chloride. WVhile these strip detectors are of considerable use, there,

are certain disadvantages attached to them. As one example, in moisteningthe strips, the workers often make use of saliva unclean from tobacco, and the discoloration of the strip due to the tobacco, reduces the certainty of the test. There is also a likelihood of the reagent being removed by handling of the strips after they have been moistened for use. Furthermore, it has been found that when these strip detectors are carried about by the worker for a considerable period of time they become somewhat discolored and thus less satisfactory as means for promptly detecting the presence of the gas.

The object of applicants invention is the provision of a detecting means which is small and readily portable, thus being suitable for commercial use, and which, in addition, is free of the disadvantages attached to the strip form of detector.

In general, applicants device consists of a small glass vessel containing the reagent in solution, and a light colored absorbent covering for the vessel. When a test is to be made, the vessel is crushed and the covering moistened by the solution.

Application filed December 3, 1925. serial'lio. 73,040.

the lower half of the device being represented in cross section; Fig. 2 shows the covered vessel, after crushing, in association w th suitable means for bringing in contact w1th the molstened cover a definite quantity of, the air to be tested.

With reference to the details of Fig. 1, the glass ampoule 1 is easily frangible and contains a solution of the reagent. A suitable composition of the contents of this ampoule is 'as follows: one per cent palladium chlorlde, one per cent sodium chloride, forty per cent acetone and the balance distilled water. The purpose of an ingredient such as acetone is'to lower the freezing oint of the solution and also to increase t e solub1l1ty of the salts. About the ampoule 1 there is placed a covering 2 of light colored cotton or other absorbent. The covering 2 is held in place about the ampoule by any suitable means, suchas the thread networ 3, and the ends of this network may be held in place by retaining threads 4 and 5.

When a test is to be made, the ampoule 1 1s crushed, and the cotton covering 2 becomes moistened with the solution. Upon exposure to air containing carbon monoxide, th1s moistened covering turns dark, the degree of the discoloration indicating'the degee of concentration of the carbon monox- 1 e.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement for bringing into contact with the covering, which has been moistened by the crushing of the ampoule, a definite quantity of the air-to be tested. The ampoule and its covering are placed in a transparent container 6. One end of this container is closed by a. rubber stopper 7, through which passes a small glass tube 8. The other end of the container, 9, is formed to receive a rubber tube 10, with which is formed a bulb ll having a suitable double valve construction for one way passage of the air. By this arrangement, or by any other suitable means, a given quantity of the air is drawn into intimate contact with the moistened covering.

While the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is desirable, it is obvious that the carbon monoxide gas can be detected by the simple operation of crushing the ampoule, covered as shown in Fig. 1, and exposing the device to the air which is to be tested.

It is to be understood that, while appli- Q v A. v 1,644,014..

. cants" invention has been described in a cer-.

covering for-said vessel of acolored tain' s ecific embodiment which is deemed desira leit is capable of embodiment in.

absorbent material.

2A gas detector, comprising an easily frangible vessel containing a solution of tectmg the presence of carbon monoxide gas palladium chloride, and a covering for said vessel of a light .colored absorbent material. 3. Agas detector, comprising a vesSelcon- .tainin a solution of saltsincludin palladium c loride, and acovering' .there or of a light colored absorbent material, the vessel being designed to be crushed when the de-- tector is to be' used, permitting. the solution to moisten the coverlng. 4

a covering therefor of a light colored absorbent material, the vessel being designed to be crushed when thedetector is to be-used,

permitting the solution to moisten the cover- 5. As a means, in combination for de- .tectingthe presence -of carbon monoxide gas in the air a vessel containing a solution ding palladium chloride, a covof salts inclu ering therefor .of a 1i ht colored absorbent material, said vessel eingdesigned to be crushed when the detector. is to be used, permitting the covering to be moistened .by the solution, a transparent container into which the vessel after crushing and the covering may be inserted, and-means for drawing through saidcontamer a definite quantity of the air. to be tested. A

6. As a means, inucombination, for dein the air, a vessel'containing a solution of palladium chloride, a covering therefor of alight colored absorbent material, said ves-' sel being designed to be crushed-when the detector is to be used, permitting the cover- !ing to be moistened by the solution, a transparent container into whlch the vessel aftercrushing and the'covering may be inserted,

I and means for drawing through saidcon 4. A gas detector, comprising a vessel container a definite quantity of the air tobe taining a solution of palladium chloride and tested.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our CHESTER s; GORDON. JAMES '1. Low 

